Christ Lutheran Vail is a community of followers of Jesus Christ, committed to live by faith, to be known by love, and to be a voice of hope. We welcome people from all walks of life, wherever they are in their spiritual journey.

Jun 13, 2012

Day 35 - June 10, 2012

Day 35 - June 10, 2012

When we regularly take the time to stop what we are doing and listen to our Father, His presence becomes the reward and the joy of our prayer times. As we read through Why Pray? together and practice prayer, I hope that Christ's presence will inhabit our private lives and the corporate life of our church more and more.

But we need not to confuse Christ's presence with comfort. It is true that the Holy Spirit comforts us when we are struggling, but for me, it is often an uncomfortable comfort. God delights in taking us in unexpected directions when we are willing to give up our own agendas and follow where He leads us in prayer. It's like a baby's startle reflex. We are all nested down comfortably and then God asks us to do something that makes us feel surprised and exposed. Our arms fly out and we take a panicked breath of air.

It's not that God isn't present with us or loving us any more. He's just getting us ready for what's next.